FRIDLA

Our Vision

To facilitate ministry spiritually through evangelization and physically
through mercy ministries to the disabled community of Latin America
or other countries as the Lord leads.

Our Mission

The primary mission of Friends of the Disabled Latin America, Inc. is
to glorify God by seeking out and assisting those affected by disability,
presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and building them up in the faith.

We accomplish this by equipping and empowering the Bible teaching
churches to seek out, evangelize, disciple and assimilate into their
congregations those affected by disability.

The physical help can be in the form of mobility equipment, medical
equipment, or whatever other humanitarian aid God
provides for the ministry.

Thank you for visiting FRIDLA's webpage. If you are "old friends", thank you for your prayers and financial support. Your faithfulness and generous support has enabled us to reach thousands of families with the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ. You are co-laborers with us in the ministry to which God has called us.

If you are "new friends", welcome and we look forward to your partnership with us.

FRIDLA began in Chile and has now expanded to Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay. On-going disability ministry organizations have been established empowering the nationals to reach their own people. The World Health Organization estimates that almost 15% of the population has some form of disability. In many parts of Latin America, this segment of the population has been forgotten. Many are not able or just don't want to go out of the house. We have to seek them out in order to be able to help them.

You are making this happen as a partner in our ministry. Tell others about FRIDLA and what the Lord is doing through us in Latin America.
With the expansion of the ministry in the countries that we currently serve and our desire to open up other countries, we need more missionaries to come on board. If you feel that you are being called into this type of ministry, then we would be interested in hearing from you.

Joyfully serving Him,
Your Co-laborers at FRIDLA

In Luke 14:15-23,where Jesus Christ tells us the parable of the Great Banquet, the servants of the master are commanded to "go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame," and then more emphatically to "to make them come in, so that my house will be full."

This is the mandate that we at Friends of the Disabled Latin America take to heart. It is not enough to build ramps and widen doors; what is needed is a change of heart, a compassion for those with special needs and a desire to seek them out and bring them into the church.

HOW WHEELCHAIRS CAN HELP US MINISTER TO THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE DISABLED

Sharing the love of Christ is facilitated when we are able to show that we care about not only the disabled person's spiritual condition, but also their physical condition by providing mobility tools to aid them in their every-day life.

Each family that receives assistance is presented a Bible and our volunteers patiently evangelize the entire family that is affected by disabilities.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION - CHANGING ATTITUDES TOWARD THE DISABLED

Those with special needs in Latin America are usually isolated at home. The entire family can be segregated from the community and from the church. There is a stigma attached to the family. Many schools will not accept them. People with special needs often cannot find work.

If the special need happens to be the result of an accident after the person has finished their education, the individual will most likely never be able to use their skills to earn a living. We met a gentleman who had just graduated from college and was ready to begin work as a CPA. He was injured by a hit and run driver and has spent the rest of his life as a paraplegic. Because he must use a wheelchair, his education mental capacity means nothing. He has to make little trinkets by hand to sell to earn money.

FRIDLA educates community and church leaders on the Biblical perspective regarding outreach to the people with special needs and the importance of incorporating them into the local life. The established local partner organizations mobilize volunteers in the local churches. This enables ministry to continue in the community with the ongoing support of FRIDLA.